New Renault 5 E-Tech: retro-inspired EV surfaces online ahead of 2024 Geneva Motor Show reveal

Long-awaited all-electric reboot of the iconic Renault 5 will be fully unveiled on 26 February 2024

Hallelujah! It looks like the hotly anticipated Renault 5 E-Tech’s design will remain true to the original internet-breaking concept car from 2021. That’s based on new official patent images that have surfaced online ahead of the retro-inspired EV’s world debut at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show. 

The images of the all-electric R5 were published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and reveal that very few changes have been made to the design during the car’s long journey from concept to production. 

• New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

The Renault badge will still sit pride of place on the front end of the road-going model, flanked by a set of stylised LED headlights. There have been some changes though, such as the addition of a large air intake in the front bumper that should help cool the battery and electric motor. We can also see that the charging port will be located close to the front wheelarches, like on its big brother, the Renault Megane E-Tech. 

It looks like the production R5 will also feature a conventional door handle for those up front, rather than the pop-out ones we saw on the concept, but is sticking with a set of concealed handles tucked up in the C-pillar, similar to those on petrol-powered Clio supermini. 

Meanwhile the rear sports a set of upright tail-lights and a large plastic bumper inspired by the concept’s. Instead of a light bar, however, the road-going R5’s rear lights will be joined together with a black horizontal bar running across the boot lid.

Renault 5 E-Tech official teaser images

Despite the reborn Renault 5’s debut still being a few months away, and excitement for its arrival already at a fever pitch, the French firm recently decided it needed to build up more hype by releasing some teaser images. 

One very curious element Renault revealed is the external charge indicator placed on top of the bonnet. Referencing the original R5’s bonnet vent, this new graphic panel will externally display the car’s current state of charge when plugged in, lighting up the same ‘5’ graphic that forms the car’s badge. 

The teaser images also give us glimpses of the new Renault 5’s badge and its angular headlight design that appears to feature a tiny French flag motif in the upper corner, and a mark at their centre likened to the pupil in a human eye. 

The tail-lights have been just as heavily styled it seems, with horizontal internal lighting strips that will help give a distinctive night time appearance. The teasers also reveal that the lights will not sit under a typical lens or cover, with an upright vane at its edge acting as an aerofoil to smooth airflow as it detaches from the side of the body. 

These teaser images also confirm that a version of the original concept’s eye-catching yellow paint will be featured as one of the available launch colours, probably joined by other bright shades of blue and green as suggested by other teaser images. 

All of these new details join what we already know about Renault’s new 5, including the fact that it will launch with a 52kWh battery pack powering a front-mounted e-motor that’s capable of up to 248 miles on a charge. It’ll sit on the AmpR Small platform, formerly known as CMP-B EV, and feature high-spec multi-link rear suspension as standard. The new R5 will also measure just 3.92 metres long – roughly the same length as the new MINI Cooper it’ll be going up against. 

For customers eager to get hold of the new R5 as quickly as possible, Renault has announced its R5 R Pass, which for £150 will allow them to specify their model 10 days early and get a priority build slot at the very beginning of production. Once the R5 is revealed, they’ll also be gifted a scale model of the new car, plus have access to launch events around Europe. 

The first UK deliveries will commence in early 2025, with pricing expected to start around £30,000. Until then, we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for the next round of teaser images until it’s full reveal in Geneva next year.

In the market for an electric car? Read our run-down of the best EVs on sale…

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